5 Warning Signs of Bulimia That You Must Watch Out For
Bulimia Nervosa, or otherwise called Bulimia is an eating disorder that causes people to binge eat large amounts of food without control. They tend to overeat and then purge afterwards to get the food they have intake out of their system to avoid gaining excess weight.
There are also other methods that people with bulimia use to avoid weight gain. Some of these involve self-inducing vomiting regularly, fasting, exercising excessively, practicing very strict diets, and using weight loss supplements, laxatives, diuretics, and enemas after binge eating.
A person with bulimia becomes preoccupied with their body shape and weight. They may also be very harsh in judging themselves in their appearance.
According to 2019 statistics, Canada has about one million people who are diagnosed with an eating disorder. One out of ten Canadians dies suffering from an eating disorder. These eating disorders include bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder, pica, binge eating disorder, rumination disorder, and unspecified feeding or eating disorder. An eating disorder is a psychological disorder. Other factors such as biological make-up, genetics, and social causes can also contribute to an eating disorder.
To prevent or intervene for someone who has bulimia, identifying the symptoms and signs of this eating disorder will give a significant advantage and can minimize further health risks.
What are some warning signs of bulimia nervosa?
Since bulimia and other eating disorders are mostly suffered in secret, trying to identify it can be difficult and challenging. But here are 5 warning signs and symptoms of someone suffering from bulimia and people surrounding them should look out for:
- Binge eating large portions of food then having compensatory behaviour afterwards.
People who are suffering from bulimia may not have control over their eating consumption. They tend to eat even to a point of discomfort or pain due to their inability to stop themselves. After their binge eating, guilt will then arise and they will resort to harmful ways to undo what they have done. The most common way to undo this is by deliberately vomiting the food. Others also use abusive laxatives, diet pills, and diuretics. Fasting and over exercising are also some practices that they do after overeating.
- Intense fear of weight gain
A person with bulimia often expresses their dislike for their appearance and body type. They also love discussing and including diet practices, food, specific appearance and shape to the conversations they have with people.
- Experiencing dehydration and often becoming weary and weak even in normal day to day activities.
The use of abusive laxatives and the often self-induced vomiting can cause the body to become dehydrated as potassium and calcium become inadequate due to the constant vomiting.
- Acting differently around meals
A person with bulimia may exhibit unusual behaviours during a meal. They may often disappear and go to the bathroom after eating a large portion of food. Drinking water or any soda excessively after a meal can also be an indicator of bulimia and purging behaviour. Eating alone privately for most of the times and taking a shower immediately after meals are also other behaviours of purging and are causes for concern
- Over-exercising
This can tough to distinguish as not everyone who over-exercises is suffering from bulimia. On the other hand, exercise bulimia occurs when a person uses exercise as a way to compensate for their overeating activity. These are commonly increasing in males who have bulimia. If a person is unable to take a break or a day off in exercising even during an injury or in times of being sick or ill, then that can be an indicator of exercise bulimia.
If you know someone who is having these symptoms and signs of bulimia, consulting a professional for an eating disorder is advised and recommended. If you are Canadian, try searching for an online doctor in Ontario or anywhere in Canada to help you or someone close to you to get the right diagnosis and treatment. Bulimia is a serious eating disorder and it is also life-threatening. The best way to help someone suffering from bulimia and other eating disorders is to get them and lead them to the right treatment facilities and professionals.
Become informed by reading books and articles online about the causes, symptoms, and risks of bulimia and become a support system for your loved one who is suffering from this disorder. You can also consult your online doctor on how to properly address and intervene for people with an eating disorder. It may be a long process from observing their behaviours, then forming a plan, to letting them accept your help and get them to therapy and treatment. These can be difficult at first but helping them get better and healthier physically, mentally, and emotionally are all worth your efforts. You can also coordinate with the National Eating Disorder Information Centre for more information click here.